Success Rate and Complications of Endoscopic Deacryocystorhinostomy without Stenting: A Retrospective Study

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) is a well accepted surgical treatment for patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Previously, external dacryocystorhino-stomy was considered as the gold standard treatment for NLDO, however, EDCR has gained momentum due to its several advantages. The EDCR has been sounding more aesthetic and as functional compared to the traditional external dacryocystorhinostomy in the surgical treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction with comparable outcomes. Purpose: to determine the success rate and complications of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without stenting. Materials and methods: it was a retrospective study performed in the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS), Universal College of Medical Sciences-Teaching Hospital (UCMS-TH) from June 2019 to September 2024. A total of 19 patients charts were reviewed. All the cases were performed under general anesthesia. All the cases had undergone without silicon stenting and were regularly followed up for a period of 3 months. Post operative stomal patency and complications were noted based on subjective and endoscopic evaluation. Results: Out of 19 patients, 12 were female and 7 were male with the age range of 12 to 70 years. Transnasal synechiae was seen in 2 female and 1 male patients. Stomal patency was 100% with no recurrence of epiphora in 17 patients (89.4%) during 3 months of follow up. 2 female patients with released synechiae didn’t come for 3 months follow up. Conclusion: It is a safe and minimally invasive procedure and has a comparable success rate to external DCR with an additional advantage of more aesthetic value.